Testimony

Every dog has its day

Sue MacDonald shares how a visit from a therapy dog introduced her to the Army and changed her life

MY father and I were visiting my mother in hospital, and the nurse asked us if we liked dogs. We said yes, and in walked Evie, a therapy dog, with her owner, Major Alexandra Hughes. Being in hospital was making my mother unhappy but Evie brought smiles to Mum’s face as she stroked her.

Alexandra mentioned that she was a retired Salvation Army officer who worshipped at Bognor Regis Corps and that, as part of her Christian ministry in Chichester, she did therapy visits with Evie. My mother lived with dementia but amazingly was able to relate her experiences during the Second World War to Alexandra.

A bomb was dropped on her family’s road in Egham, Surrey, and everyone had to get out of their houses. The Salvation Army took in all nine family members and gave them clothes, food, drink and anything else they needed. They did this for the whole street, and everyone was so grateful. They never forgot the Army’s kindness.

We saw Alexandra and Evie twice more at the hospital and we talked again about The Salvation Army and the Christian faith. Evie greatly cheered my mother up and enjoyed a lot of fuss too.

Sadly, Mum passed away in April 2018, but I kept in touch with Alexandra through social media and she invited me to attend her corps. I have always believed in God but, while I have been to several churches over the years, I never felt I belonged. I decided to go with Alexandra to The Salvation Army and the first thing I noticed was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. I enjoyed the worship as well.

I’m the type of person who likes to help people, so I thought this was the place I needed to be. Alexandra also invited me to the pop-up choir led by corps officer Major Sarah Butler. I started attending most of the worship meetings and a To Serve course. On 23 February 2020 I was enrolled as a soldier. It was an honour to wear my Army uniform. Evie and Alexandra were present at my enrolment and I am grateful for the day God guided them to my mum’s hospital ward.

I have found my spiritual home and a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus, and my family have seen a difference in me.

Evie at Bognor Regis Corps with National Therapy Dog of the Year runner-up rosette

Labrador Evie was one of the longest- serving therapy dogs in the UK and touched many people’s lives, visiting hospitals, nursing homes and schools for children with special needs, and helping adults with learning difficulties and those living with dementia. She died in January this year, aged 13.

Evie was recognised at Crufts with a special award for her work over the years and was runner-up in the National Therapy Dog of the Year awards in 2018. In 2020 she was awarded a pet hero award for alerting Alexandra to a family in distress in the sea, which was remarkable because Evie was blind.

The pair have featured on local television and radio and in the press. Their profile has created several opportunities for Alexandra to talk about the Army and her faith.

‘I always prayed that God would … make an opportunity [for me] to share my faith,’ she says, ‘and with every client I met our conversation would end with “God bless you”. A dog is non-judgemental and can be a bridge to talking about God. Just a dog some might say, but one that God used for his Kingdom.’

Soaked in the Spirit

Major Mal Davies explores how the Spirit is poured out on us

ACTS 2:1–21

THERE are those who might say that a hallmark of my teaching and preaching style is me asking dumb questions, and they’re possibly right. I think asking obvious questions can help us to rethink things that, otherwise, we can easily over-complicate.

So, here’s the first one: what’s the difference between occasionally drinking water and diving into a river? Bear in mind, both involve you and water.

It’s not too hard to realise that one of them involves putting water into you and the other involves putting you into water. It’s a simple question to respond to. Hold that thought!

QUESTIONS

What does it feel like to dive into a body of water on a hot day? Do you like that feeling or not? Do you ease your way in slowly or dive in headfirst?

In Acts 2 we read about the events of Pentecost and the disciples in Jerusalem and the coming in power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a packed chapter, but I’d like to hone in on one phrase: ‘I will pour out my Spirit’ (vv17 and 18).

As Peter speaks to the crowd, he begins by quoting the prophet Joel, speaking about the last days and how God will pour his Spirit out. Some 800 years or so before the time of Christ, Joel had prophesied after a huge locust plague had devastated the lands of Judah. He spoke of it as judgement on unbelievers but he also spoke of recovery and blessings that would come if Judah revered God. He then moved on to speak of later times: ‘And afterwards, I will pour out my Spirit on all people’ (Joel 2:28).

Before Pentecost, the Spirit tended to fill special people on special occasions for special tasks. Someone would be filled with the Spirit only while they accomplished something great for God, and then he would depart from them. For example, Moses and 70 elders (see Numbers 11:25), Gideon (see Judges 6:34), Samson (see Judges 15:12–14) and Samuel (see 1 Samuel 10:10). The Spirit’s presence in someone was selective and temporary.

However, at Pentecost, Peter announces – thanks to Joel’s words – that God’s Spirit has been poured out on all people who believe in God. The Spirit’s presence is no longer a temporary experience for the believer but a lasting, ever-present reality.

American pastor and author AW Tozer said: ‘The Spirit-filled life is not a special, deluxe edition of Christianity; it is part and parcel of the total plan of God for his people.’

Through the week with Salvationist

– a devotional thought for each day

by Major Lynda Levis

SUNDAY

‘For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.’ (Isaiah 44:3)

MONDAY

Holy Spirit! Promised presence fall on me./ Holy Spirit! Make me all I long to be./ Holy Spirit! Holy Spirit!/ Give your power to me O Holy Spirit. (SASB 316)

TUESDAY

My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power. (1 Corinthians 2:4)

Prayer

Lord, as you promised to send your Spirit, so you have acted on that promise. May we claim your gift and live a life emboldened, encouraged and filled with your presence, displaying the fruit of the promise in every part of our lives.

QUESTIONS

Do you agree? As Christians, are we sometimes Spirit-filled or always Spirit-filled? Are all Christians Spirit-filled or just the ones over a certain age or who have been saved for longer?

Jesus had said that God ‘will give you another Advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth’ (John 14:16 and 17) and that the Holy Spirit will be sent to ‘teach you all things’ (John 14:26). At Pentecost that ‘will’ became a ‘has’, and God’s Spirit arrived in power.

It is interesting that, in the chapter preceding our study passage, Jesus said to the disciples: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 1:4 and 5).

The word ‘baptised’ comes from an old Greek word meaning ‘to be immersed, soaked or washed fully in water’. So we are ‘baptised with the Holy Spirit’ when he is ‘poured out’ on us.

In the Old Testament, someone would be filled with the Spirit temporarily (like drinking a glass of water). In the New Testament, we are baptised/immersed in the Holy Spirit (like diving into a river).

In Brindley Boon’s classic song ‘Spirit Divine, Come as of Old’ (SASB 311), the water symbolism can be found again: ‘Spirit divine, cleanse thou our souls/ With pentecostal flood’. The ‘pentecostal flood’ is a direct reference to the generous outpouring of God’s Spirit as described by Peter and prophesied by Joel centuries earlier.

QUESTIONS

What does it look like to be filled with the Holy Spirit? How should a life lived with the Spirit appear? How can we be more attuned to the Spirit’s presence, leading and guidance in our lives?

The chorus of Boon’s lovely song is a fitting benediction for us:

Come, great Spirit, come, Make each heart thy home; Enter every longing soul; Come, great Spirit, come

MAJOR DAVIES IS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND PUBLISHING SECRETARY

WEDNESDAY

For the mighty moving of thy Spirit/ In our hearts and minds from day to day,/ For the gentle soothing of thy Spirit/ When our fears had filled us with dismay:/ We adore thee, heavenly Father,/ And we thank thee, heavenly Father,/ And we praise thee, heavenly Father,/ As we pray, as we pray.

(SASB 319)

THURSDAY

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. (1 Thessalonians 1:4 and 5)

FRIDAY

Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame,/ Send the fire!/ Thy blood-bought gift today we claim,/ Send the fire!/ Look down and see this waiting host,/ Give us the promised Holy Ghost,/ We want another Pentecost,/ Send the fire!

(SASB 326)

SATURDAY

As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 11:15 and 16)